USAGE: "draughts" (was Not YAEPT), and OT: paying for stuff

On 1/26/07, li_sasxsek@nutter.net <li_sasxsek@...> wrote:
> > This word is not common over here (we call the game "checkers"), but
> > if it were it would be /dr&fts/.  In Rightpondian, does it tend to
> > have an /&/ or an /a/ - BAT or BATH?
>
> Yes, that would be pronounced /dr{fts/ here, but then again it's "checkers"
> unless you're referring to beer from a tap, then it would be spelled "drafts".
Now I'm confused. I suppose you're ana American (i.e. leftpondian) and
therefore you reply is only agreewing with Mark's description of
American English? or are you talking about some northern variant of
English/Scottish English?

Also, I'm a little confused about where "draught" ends and "draft"
begins. In Australia, proofs of a work are "drafts", but the people
who make drawings are usually "draughtsmen". Beer on tap and cold
breezes through rooms are almost invariably "draughts". The game
alternates between being "checkers" and "draughts", with probably
"checkers" the more common.

Now I kinda assumed this was normal, but is the situation otherwise?

(FWIW, in Australia we agree with southern Brits in pronunciation and
call them /dra:ft/.)

Also, on completely different and unrelated topics, one of my two jobs
involves taking money from customers at Ikea and giving them change
for purchases. There seems to be some sort of cultural difference
here. I get a fair number of tourists, and one thing about them,
regardless of what country they come from really annoys me: The way
they hand me their money. Most Australians will pay by handing the
cashier the money; if the cashier is not ready, the customer will wait
until the cashier puts out their hand and hand it to them. The cashier
will give them change in exactly the same manner. If the customer
needs to count out their money on the counter, the customer will
usually pick it up and hand it to the cashier. Parents teaching their
children to buy things will say "now give the man the money". Aside
from in a rare set of circumstances when this isn't possible, most
Australians who *don't* do it like this are generally otherwise pretty
rude.

Now, a lot of tourists, from just about anywhere, and regardless of
how well-mannered they are, will put the money down on the counter,
and leave it there. The first few times this happened I left it
there—I thought they were just counting it out, or going to grab some
more money or something. If I try and put my hand for where they're
aiming, they will often change where they're aiming for, so it reaches
the counter. Then, they expect me to hand their change back to them in
their hands (and get offended if I don't—but surely what's good for
the goose is good for the gander). This strikes me, and the others who
work with me, as both a rude and annoying habit. Picking up money all
day long from a metal counter is *not* fun. Being expected to pick up
after someone, and then being expected to treat them otherwise strikes
me as both rude and degrading.

So really, what I want to know is: Is my assessment of the situation
accurate? Is the correct way to pay for something in most other
countries to put the money on the counter? or is it just something
about being in a foreign country or having been shopping at Ikea that
makes them do that?

(Also, I wanted to rant about something that's annoyed me for a few
years, I hope you don't mind.)

--
Tristan.

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